Immigration Minister Scott Morrison told the NT News: “Stopping the boats not only saves lives, but it delivers for taxpayers on our budget bottom line.

“We will close the detention centres that Labor had opened because they lost control of our borders, saving more than $280 million.

“This is just another example of how stopping the boats is delivering for our country and why the Government will not back down to the pressure of Labor and the Greens to abolish our strong border polices that are clearly working.”

Tensions between Australia and Indonesia continue over the Government’s controversial border protection policy.

The Prime Minister’s office confirmed that Prime Minister Abbott and Indonesian President Yudhoyono spoke by telephone on Tuesday afternoon following fresh reports of boat turn backs into Indonesian waters.

“In a very cordial conversation both leaders agreed on the importance of the bilateral relationship between Australia and Indonesia,” a statement released by the PMO said.

“They committed to continue the progress that has been made to resolve current issues and to strengthen the relationship further.”

Comments on this story

thatntguy of Darwin Posted at 9:22 AM May 11, 2014

So where are the current occupants of these two centres going to be housed?

Merlin of Darwin Posted at 7:42 AM May 11, 2014

Thank you Tony Abbott for stopping the boats and illegal migrants, who incidentally have been found, after 5 years in Australia, that 90% are still receiving welfare. A further cost to the taxpayer. This shows no expectation of learning the local language and finding a job for the majority.
Now we can take more of those migrants patiently waiting in camps across nations who have done the right thing and filled out their paperwork.
And not like those people who treat us and our country with contempt.
Living in Indonesia does not make you a refugee. Living in those awful camps in Africa does. I worked in the detention centre and the general public would be alarmed at what had been allowed under the Rudd/ Gillard times.